From February 1 to 7, Eating Disorder Awareness Week (#EDAW2018) aims to create a dialogue to help break stigma and combat misconceptions surrounding eating disorders.

Eating disorders can involve a person restricting or purging food due to a distorted body image, or avoiding or binge-eating food for other reasons. If people with eating disorders are not getting enough nutrients, they can become malnourished and are at risk for several long-term medical complications.

Eating disorders affect people of all genders, ages, races and ethnicities, and can harm not only a child’s health and well-being, but their family life as well. However, with the right treatment and support, children with eating disorders can recover — which makes it critical to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of different disorders.

February is also #PsychologyMonth, which educates Canadians on how psychology can help us understand our thoughts, emotions and behaviours. AboutKidsHealth’s mental health articles provide information on how to recognize and treat various psychological conditions in children and teens. Visit the AKH Mental Health Resource Centre to learn more about:

AboutKidsHealth is SickKids’ patient-education website and features more than 3,500 articles, illustrations and videos on a range of paediatric health topics. For more information on mental health and other topics, visit www.aboutkidshealth.ca.